DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 509 



infringes on the caliber of the nostrils. The appetite remains normal. 

 The animal is attentive to all that is going on, and, except for the 

 swelling, apparently in perfect health. 



In from two to four days, in severe cases, the tissues can no longer 

 resist the pressure of the exuded fluid. Over the surface of the skin 

 which covers the dropsy we find a slight serous sweating, which 

 loosens the epidermis and dries so as to simulate the eruption of som.e 

 cutaneous disease. If this is excessive we may see irritated spots 

 which arc suppurating. In the nasal fossse the hemorrhagic spots have 

 acted as irritants, and, inviting an increased amount of blood to the 

 Schneiderian membrane, produce a coryza or even a catarrh. We may 

 now find, some enlargement and peripheral edema of the lymphatic 

 glands, which are fed. from the affected part. The thermometer 

 indicates a slight rise in the body temperature, while the pulse and 

 respiration are somewhat accelerated. The appetite usually remains 

 good. In the course of a few days the temperature may have reached 

 102°, 103°, or 104° F. 



Fever is established, not an essential or specific fever in any way, 

 but a simple secondar}^ fever produced b}' the dead material from the 

 surface or superficial suppuration, and b}'^ the oxidization and absorp- 

 tion of the colloid mass contained, in the tissues. The skin may sup- 

 purate or slough more or less over the areas of greatest tension or 

 where it is irritated by blows or pressure. The great swelling about 

 the head ninj by closure of the nostrils interfere seriously with breath- 

 ing. Internal edema may occur in the throat, lungs, or intestines. 

 Septicemia, or blood poisoning, may result from anasarca. 



Terrninatlons. — The simple form of the disease most frequently 

 terminates favorably on the eighth or tenth diiy by resolution or absorp- 

 tion of the effusion, with usuall}^ a profuse diuresis, and with or with- 

 out diarrhea. The appetite remains good or is at times capricious. 



Death may occur from mechanical asphyxia, produced by closure of 

 the nostrils or closure of the glottis. Metastasis to the lungs is almost 

 invariably fatal, causing death b^^ asphj'-xia. Metastasis to the intes- 

 tines may cause death from pain, enteritis, or hemorrhage. 



Excessive suppuration, lymphangitis, and gangrene are causes of a 

 fatal termination by exhaustion. Mortal exhaustion is again produced 

 by inability to swallow in cases of excessive swellmg of the head. ^ 



Peritonitis ma}^ arise secondary to the enteric edema, or by perfora- 

 tion of the stomach or intestines by a gangrenous spot. Septicemia 

 terminates fatally with its usual train of symptoms. 



Alterations.— Tha essential alterations of anasarca are exceedingly 

 simple; the capillaries arc dilated, the lymphatic spaces between the 

 fibers of the connective tissue are filled with serum, and the coagulable 

 portion of the blood presents a j^ellowish or citrine mass, jelly-like in 

 consistency, which has stretched out the tissue like the meshes of a 



